The Michigan Daily
SPORTS
Thursday, October 22, 1981
CUT BY LIONS, EAGLES
Page 9
Hicks finds
sec
By JIM DWORMAN
The Detroit Lions didn't want him.
The Torono Argonauts wanted too
much of him. The Philadelphia Eagles'
didn't think he was good enough.
Until October 24, 1979 that was the
story of Dwight Hicks' professional
football career.
AFTER LETTERING at Michigan
for four years, the .Detroit Lions chose
Hicks in the sixth round of the 1978
National Football League draft.
Despite impressive showings in brief,
exhibition game appearances, Hicks
was cut by the Lions prior to the
opening of the regular season.
The former Michigan co-captain then
took his talents to the Canadian Foot-
ball League, where he signed with the
Argonauts. Hicks immediately stepped
into the Toronto starting lineup, playing
not only as a defensive back but also on
every special team. While Hicks en-
joyed the opportunity to play, he
believed that he was being overworked.
"They (the Canadian teams) play
their Americans more because they're
paid more," explained Hicks. "I was
always on the field. I'd play defense,
then I'd return the other.team's punt.
Since there are only three downs in
Canadian football and our offense
wasn't very good, I'd have just gotten
off the field when I'd have to run back in
and play defense. I never got to rest."
HICKS PLAYED only one year for the
Argonauts. He returned to the United
States and signed with the Eagles in
1979
Unfortunately, his tryout with the
Eagles had the same result as the one
with the Lions; Hicks made it to the
last player cut of the year before the ax
fell.
-Itwas a disappointment. I thought I
should have made both Philadelphia
and Detroit'recalled 6-1, 189 pounder."I
was talented enough. I just didn't get
the opportunity to show it.
"I WOULD HAVE loved to play in
either city.Ann Arbor is a short distan-
ce from Detroit and I gew up only 10
minutes away from Philadelphia."
Seemingly without a place inthe NFL
Hicks returned to Detroit ot manage a
health foods store. On October 24, less
than two months later, Hicks was
signed by San Francisco.
Now, as a stating safety for the first
place 49ers, Hicks has proved his wor-
th.
THE MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. native
lead the 49ers in interceptions in each of
the past two seasons. Last year, he was
also the team's second leading tackler.
"We feel quite fortunate to have
Dwight Hicks on our team," said
George Seifert, 49er secondary coach.
"He's one of the more sure tacklers on
trity wit
the team and mentally he's very
sharp."
Hicks' intelligence has become an
important asset to the 49ers this season.
With three rookies starting in the San
Francisco defensive backfield, Hicks
has been forced into a leadership role.
"HE'S KIND of our quarterback in
the secondary," said Seifert.
for a touchdown and the other 72 yards
to set up another 49er score. In ad-
dition, he recovered a fumble and ran it
back 80 yards for another touchdown.
Hicks also contributed a solo tackle to
San Francisco's 30-17 victory. His per-
formance broke 49ers club records for
both interception return and fumble
recovery yardage.
"THE ONLY TIME I've ever been
that productive was in the last game of
my senior year in high school," said
Hicks. "I intercepted four passes for
two touchdowns and scored another two
touchdowns as a running back."
Now holding a secure spot on the
49ers roster, Hicks has two goals left in
his career: "I'd like to see our team in
the Super Bowl and I'd like to be an All-
Pro," said Hicks. "I want to be
recognized by my peers as the best at
my position."
With San Francisco now sporting a 5-
2 record and Hicks' having ac-
cumulated four interceptions, both
goals could be realized in the near
future.
t 9ers
While his relative experience has
come in handy, Hicks leads primarily
by example Against the Washington
Redskins earlier this month, Hicks tur-
ned in what Seifert termed "the finest
defensive performance of the season."
In that game, Hicks intercepted two
Redskin passes, returning one 32 yards
FORMER MICHIGAN STANDOUT Dwight Hicks, now a defensive back for
San Francisco, set two 49er club records earlier this season in a game again-
st Washington. Hicks shattered one mark when he returned a fumble 80 yar-
ds for a toucldown, and he broke another mark by picking off two passes for
a total of 104 return yards and a touchdown.
Football at Pioneer;
best game in town
ids
hh,14
m
By JESSE BARKIN
' Championship caliber football,
believe it or not, is still in Ann Arbor.
Football fans may not see any at
Michigan Stadium, but they only have
to wander across the street to find it-at
Pioneer High School.,
The Pioneers are the top-ranked
Class A team in the state, sporting an
unblemished mark of 6-0. They have
been impressive beatifig many of the
area's top teams this season.
SECOND YEAR coach Chuck Lori at-
tributes much of his team's success to
his senior leadership.
"We have 25 or 26 great seniors who
play," said Lori. "They're my leaders;
they're the reason we're 6-0."
So far this year, Pioneer has climbed
to the number one spot after defeating
what Lori described as some of their
region's best teams. "Four of our seven
,pponents (including this Friday's, Yp-
silanti) have been ranked in the top ten
at-some point this season," said Lori.
Arid so far, they have beaten a number
one team (Catholic Central), and last
week they beat the number two school,
Adrian.
,,OUR DEFENSE has been
awesome," said Lori. "Well, people tell
usanyway.
"There's a lot of strength and a lot of
speed on that defense. There's only one
kid that can't run under five flat in the
40," he said. "They're very intense,
very aggressive."
Leading the defense for the Pioneers
are linebackers Andy Moeller and
Steve Wiod. They are one-two in tackles
on the team. Defensive back John Yarn
leads the secondary with five intercep-
tions.
THE OFFENSE is headed by an
unusual combination in that run-
ning backGreg Parhan has amassed 578
yards in six games, six yards more than
his nephew, Tracy Parhan's total of 572.
The Pioneers run mostly an option at-
tack, led by quarterback Al Smith, and
they "pretty much" stay on the ground,
but Lori said that they like to "open up
and throw" on occasion.
"We like to throw the ball," explained
Lori, "but we're more of a run-oriented
offense."
Looking ahead, Lori said that he wan-
ts to concentrate only on this week's
game, but admitted that it was hard for
the players not to look forward to the
playoffs.
Discussing his success as coach
(number one in only his second year)
Lori played down his importance on the
field. "It's the talent. I just turn these
guys loose on Friday night."
And judging by his success this
season, maybe Bo should listen and just
turn his loose on Saturdays.
The LSA Internship Program
Will Be Accepting Applications
for Summer and Fall Internships, 1982
October 12-Applications Available
October 30-Applications Due
Juniors in Natural Science, Math, CCS; Social Science, Humanities,
BGS, and ICP, are encouraged to apply.
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526-3600
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Ni
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SAVE 10 thru 30%
and
more,
on many photographic
accessories and equipment.
All items are from our regular stock, and
reduced from our regular prices.
ale lasts until October 31, 1981.
Qurr Mstr
RICOH KR 5 CAMERA
with 50 mm f/2.2 lens Reg. $149.95
SALE $134.95
Included is $55 Discount
Coupon Booklet.
BELL & HOWELL 35LS®
camera with built-in flash
Reg. $59.95
SALE ;44.95
Included is $22 Discount
Coupon Booklet.
QUARRY-MASTER®
Closefocus 80-205mm f/4.5
ZOOM LENS Reg
$159.95
SALE $139.95
Available in Minolta. Nikon, Olympus, Konico,
Pentax K and Universal thread mounts.
Quarry-Master®
2x Multi-coated
TELECONVERTER
Reg. $39.95
SALE $29.95
1r
Minolta XG-1 w/sO mm
F2 lens. Reg $229.90
I.
$A LE '199.90 Quarry® RT22 Tube-
Included is $55 Discount style TRIPOD.
Coupon Booklet
ProMaster® Wide-Angle Reg.$39.95 SALE '29.95
28mm f2.8 Multi-coated LENS. CT 21 Tripod
Reg$99.50 SA LE69.50 Reg. S24.95 Save 20%
Available in Minolta Nikon Olympus, Konica, Pentax
K and Universal thread mounts. - -
SAVE ON BLANK VIDEOCASSETTES
Two-Pack Offer
Example: Fuji VHS T-120 Reg. $ 6.95 EA
BUY TWO at $14.95 each.
SAVE $4.00
I
Right now, you're probably in a
career frenzy. Who wouldn't be
with so many options, so many
people giving you well-
intentioned advice. Do you feel
like you're running around in
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Slow down, take a deep breath,
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INDUSTRIAUELECTRICAUL
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
we would like to visit with you
in person when our
representatives are on your
campus
Thursday & Friday
Nov. 5-6
Register at your campus
career placement office, or
send us your resume if our
visit is inconvenient for you.
20 % Off All In-Stock ATARI® Video games
J
COLLAGE FRAME
(16x20 with glass)
SALE $9.97 Reg. $19.95
BLOWER BRUSH (Large Size)
SALE $1.47 Reg. $2.95
All Styles of our entire
stock of
BINOCULARS
SAVE ON
Quarry Optics Automatic TRI -'X BLACK
EXTENSION TUBES AND WHITE FILM
Selected Carry-All GADGET Tx135-20 Exposures
BAGS. Reg. $14.95 to $19.95 RX 1.99
NOW ON9eg. $199
S ALE FOR 0.6 o$1.0 A $1C
I-
The night before our interview,
November 4 from 7.9 PM, NL
will be hosting a company
presentation. Please plan to
attend! Check with the SW E
office for room location. We
hope that you decide on NL
Industries.
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QUARRY CABLE
RELEASE
SALE $2.47 Reg. $4.95
MOVIE EQUIPMENT
Our entire stock of Movie
Cameras and Projectors.
SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED
Quarry-Optics
CLOSEUP FILTER KIT
Sizes 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm
Reg. $19.95, SALE $13.30
r i
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TX 135-36 Exposures
Reg. $2.78
SALE $2.29
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